Written by Chris Weadick (CBC News), National Office on Thu, 2010/07/08
Light Pollution Abatement Committee (LPAC) Chair Rob Dick was honored to have the LPAC committee approve unanimously the Dark Sky Preserve (DSP) designation for Kejimkujik National Park in southern Nova Scotia.
Link to the CBC announcement and reader discussions.
Written by James Edgar, Regina on Thu, 2010/07/08
Written by Gary Boyle, Ottawa on Thu, 2010/07/01
Ophiuchus, One Of The Originals
When the astronomer, mathematician and geographer Ptolemy drafted and introduced the original 48 constellations of the night sky to the world, Ophiuchus the Snake Holder made that famous list. Astrology depicts Ophiuchus holding a long snake that actually comprises two constellations – the snake’s head Serpens Caput on the west side and Serpens Cauda, the snake’s tail on the east side.
Written by Gary Boyle, Ottawa on Thu, 2010/06/03
Draco – Circumpolar Beast
The dragon of the night is out there. Not behind the bushes at your favourite out of town dark observing site, nor is it hibernating in an isolated cave. The dragon of the night hangs high overhead, wrapped part way around Ursa Minor in the north. With our beasty friend located between the two celestial bears, it never appears to set. Constellations and stars that are visible all year round are called circumpolar.
Written by Gary Boyle, Ottawa on Sun, 2010/05/02
Corvus The Crow
Spring is a wonderful time of year for many reasons. There is the annual planting of flowers, reseeding the lawn or even painting the house or apartment. It is also known in the astronomy community as galaxy season. With semi dark skies, these distant islands containing hundred of billions of stars each, stretch all the way from Ursa Major (the Big Dipper) in the north, down through Coma Berenices, ending at Virgo in the south. If hunting galaxies is your passion, you have come to the right place. Hundreds of objects stretch across ninety degrees of sky.
Written by James Edgar, Regina on Fri, 2010/04/16
Go to http://www.rasc.ca/education/programs.shtml to find the important documents relating to the Public Speaker Programme—Programme outline, Application Procedure, and Application Form.
The first deadline of the year closed 2010 April 15.
Watch for the next advice late in June for the second-half of the year application period.
Written by Gary Boyle, Ottawa on Thu, 2010/04/01
The Change of Seasons
Now that our Canadian snow has melted for the most part, we welcome in Spring with open arms. For obvious reasons, those that did not get to do much winter observing over the past months, it is now time to dust off those scopes and enjoy a handful of seasons in one night. As April begins, we find the constellation Orion the Hunter and his wintry friends low in western skies – ready to take the plunge into twilight.
Written by Gary Boyle, Ottawa on Sun, 2010/02/28
The Illusive Crab
If I were to hand the average person a star chart of the constellation Cancer the Crab and asked them to find it in the sky, I am sure they would be hard pressed in identifying it. Unlike bright celestial patterns such as Orion, the Big Dipper and so on, Cancer is not the easiest to recognize. However to the seasoned astronomer who know the sky like the back of their hand, Cancer is flanked with the Gemini Twins to its west and Leo (Major) the Lion to its east. Both of these bordering constellations possess bright suns.
Written by James Edgar, Regina on Mon, 2010/02/22
To all RASC members:
I am pleased to announce that the first round of funding for 2010 under the newly formed Public Speaker Programme (PSP) is now available.
Written by Gary Boyle, Ottawa on Mon, 2010/02/01
Chasing the Hare
The night sky as is a theatrical stage of mythological characters, unique stories of how they interaction with others. Amongst the wintry constellations is Lepus the Hare. Although Orion the Hunter is poised in battle with Taurus the Bull, he also liked to hunt our long eared friend.
